Book review by Corey
Inanimate
Inanimate follows Connor, a lonely boy whose grief and neglect slowly turn into something much darker. After losing his mother and becoming more isolated, he eventually meets a mysterious entity known as The Eye, who offers him the power to bring his dolls to life and use them against the people who have hurt him.
The book works because Connor’s anger does not come out of nowhere. You see how much damage builds up before the revenge starts, which gives the horror a stronger emotional side. Once the dolls come to life, the story gets much more violent and unsettling, but the grief, loneliness, and twisted sense of justice underneath everything are what make it memorable.
The Goods
- Strong emotional backstory
- Creepy killer-doll concept
- Connor is easy to understand even when he goes too far
- Good mix of grief and horror
- The revenge angle gives the story real momentum
The Bads
- Very dark subject matter
- Some scenes are extremely violent
- A few side characters feel thin
- The revenge can become repetitive
- Definitely not for sensitive readers
My Recommendation
This is a good fit for readers who like dark horror, revenge stories, and books where the monster is tied closely to the main character’s pain. Connor’s relationship with the dolls gives the story a creepy emotional edge, and the horror works better because you understand why he is so angry in the first place. If you enjoy stories about grief turning into obsession, supernatural revenge, and violence that keeps getting harder to control, Inanimate is a strong and memorable read.
